• Mao Li, Huilin Yang, and Qun Yang.
• The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University Suzhou, Jiangsu Province China; The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China.
• Pain Physician. 2015 Jul 1;18(4):359-63.

BackgroundFull-endoscopic technique discectomy (FED) or microendoscopic discectomy (MED) are 2 widely used minimally invasive procedures for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation. However, there is insufficient literature regarding the differences between these 2 surgical procedures.ObjectiveTo compare the clinical outcomes of 2 different minimally invasive methods--full-endoscopic technique discectomy and microendoscopic discectomy--in the surgical treatment of lumbar disc herniation.Study DesignRetrospective study.SettingInpatient surgery center.MethodsData form 65 patients with lumbar disc herniation treated with one of 2 minimally invasive procedures were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to surgical method: the FED group (n = 35) and the MED group (n = 30). Surgery time, time kept in bed after surgery, duration of postoperative hospital stay, visual analog scale (VAS; 0-10), and Oswestry Disability index (ODI; 0-100%) were assessed and compared between the 2 groups.ResultsThere were no significant differences in the preoperative data between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). VAS and ODI scores improved significantly postoperatively in both groups (P < 0.05). Surgery time was longer in the FED group than in the MED group (P < 0.05). However, the FED group was superior to the MED group, with less time in bed, shorter hospital stay, and lower VAS scores one day postoperatively (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in VAS or ODI scores at one, 3, and 12 months after surgery between the 2 groups (P > 0.05).LimitationsThis is a retrospective study with a relatively short follow-up period.ConclusionsAlthough the clinical outcomes of the 2 surgical techniques were similar, the FED had the advantages of quicker postoperative recovery and more immediate effect.

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